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Santoro quits politics

AM - Wednesday, 21 March , 2007 08:00:00

Reporter: Alexandra Kirk

TONY EASTLEY: It took just a few minutes last night for Senator Santo Santoro to extinguish his Federal political career.

Standing in the Chamber that he said he holds so dear, the Queensland Liberal told the Senate he was resigning from Parliament and would leave at the end of next week.

It followed his resignation as Minister last Friday after it was revealed that he'd failed to disclose his financial interests in 72 companies.

Last night he unreservedly apologised to his colleagues, his party and the senate, acknowledging that the scandal was distracting the Government.

His announcement to quit politics altogether took many of his colleagues by surprise.

From Canberra, Alexandra Kirk reports.

ALEXANDRA KIRK: Senator Santo Santoro rose to his feet for four minutes last night. He left it til the last minute to announce the end of his Federal political career.

SANTO SANTORO: So, Mr Deputy President, I advised the Prime Minister tonight, and I here wish to advise the Senate, that I will shortly resign from this august institution.

ALEXANDRA KIRK: The Prime Minister had declared he needed the share dealings scandal like a hole in the head, refusing to publicly endorse the Queensland Senator for the coming election, finding Santo Santoro's explanation for his 72 share trading oversights unbelievable.

A minister called his actions indefensible, with other Liberals just as unforgiving, telling AM "he can't redeem himself from this", and "resignation was his only option".

That effectively sealed the Senator's fate.

SANTO SANTORO: I stand here tonight with a heavy heart to address an institution that I hold most dear. My omissions, which are the products purely of poor attention to compliance, have let down the Government, my party, and the reputation of the Senate.

Consequently, Mr Deputy President, I wish to unreservedly apologise to the Senate.

I hope my colleagues here will come to recognise this episode as a tragic blemish on an otherwise careful and committed parliamentary career, during which I have held both the parliaments in which I have served, and the public interest which they represent, in the highest esteem.

ALEXANDRA KIRK: Senator Santoro, who entered Parliament in 2002, is understood to have earlier told his Liberal colleagues he deserved the public humiliation he'd received.

It appears to have fallen on many deaf ears.

One insider says MPs had, quote, "compassion fatigue". Another only concerned that disendorsing the Senator would cause too much warring in the Queensland Liberals.

SANTO SANTORO: I'm also most distressed that my failure to comply with reporting requirements has represented a distraction from the achievements of the Howard Government.

It is part of the current political environment, where scrutiny is only applied in one direction, and where we have reached an unprecedented double standard that my continued presence here presents an excuse for that double standard to be played out in the nation's papers on a daily basis.

ALEXANDRA KIRK: Describing his resignation as "so difficult" and "so necessary", Santo Santoro says he never had a conflict of interest, never acted dishonestly or with deceit.

Confident his Senate register is now complete, he's hiring an independent auditor to scour all his financial records.

Despite a widespread view that he should go, the former Minister's resignation came as a surprise to many, convinced he'd dig in.

Liberal Senator Guy Barnett, though, is sympathetic.

GUY BARNETT: I'm very surprised, very disappointed. And ah, it's a very momentous decision that he's made.

JULIA GIULLARD: Certainly, it's the end so far as Senator Santoro personally is involved.

ALEXANDRA KIRK: Deputy Opposition Leader, Julia Gillard says it's impossible to tell if Santo Santoro went of his own volition. But insists it's not the end of the matter.

JULIA GILLARD: The fact remains that the Prime Minister, John Howard, was not an innocent bystander to these matters. The buck does stop with the Prime Minister, John Howard, and he hasn't taken sufficient steps to enforce his Ministerial Code, and there still appear to be further questions to be answered.

TONY EASTLEY: The deputy leader of the opposition, Julia Gillard, ending that report from Alexandra Kirk.